Chambersburg Council to alter grant strategy

Chambersburg Council to alter grant strategy

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Chambersburg Borough Council members adopted a point system Wednesday night that will help streamline the council's allocation process for Community Development Block Grant funds.

Applicants for the federal funds will be judged on a 100-point scale. A group can earn points for how much its project will benefit low- or moderate-income residents, the seriousness of the problem its project will address and its readiness to undertake the project, among other criteria.

A committee including council members Carl Helman, Ken Gill, Ruth Harbaugh and John Redding Jr., and Borough Planner Gary Norris will rate the applications received at public hearings on Feb. 12 and Feb. 26 for the $317,368 available this year.

After the committee ranks the applicants, council members will go through the list and award funds beginning with the group with the most points.

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The council has the flexibility to award all or part of any group's request. The ranking is only meant to make it a more workable process, Borough Manager Eric Oyer said.

In the past, applications were not voted on in any particular order.

"I think (awarding CDBG funds) is one of the most serious things we are charged in doing," Councilman Carl Helman said. "This way no one drops off the list."